Method and Apparatus for Automatically Displaying Multiple Presentations for Multiple Users

Abstract

A control circuit identifies users within a presentation zone that includes a plurality of displays. The control circuit then automatically selects at least two particular presentations from amongst a plurality of available presentations. By one approach one of the selected presentations corresponds to one of the identified users while another of the selected presentations corresponds to another of the identified users. The control circuit then automatically presents, at least substantially simultaneously, the selected presentations using the plurality of displays in the presentation zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of displays disposed within a presentation zone;   a user-identification interface;   a memory having a plurality of presentations stored therein; and   a control circuit operably coupled to the plurality of displays and the user-identification interface, the control circuit being configured to:
 identify users within the presentation zone; 
 automatically select, from amongst the plurality of presentations, at least two particular presentations as correspond to two of the users; and 
 automatically present, at least substantially simultaneously, the at least two particular presentations using the plurality of displays. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the presentation zone is enclosed within a room. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the room has a secured point of entry and wherein the user-identification interface is disposed proximal to the secured point of entry. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 control unlocking of the secured point of entry to protect confidentiality of a presentation being presently presented in the presentation zone. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the plurality of displays comprise touch-screen displays. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the presentations include at least one executable statistical analysis. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 determine authorization status for the users within the presentation zone; and 
 automatically determine to not present at least one of the at least two particular presentations in response to there being a user within the presentation zone who lacks a particular authorization status. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 detect when one of the two users leaves the presentation zone; and 
 responsively halt presenting the particular presentation as corresponds to the user who left the presentation zone. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 upon identifying a particular user in the presentation zone for whom there are a plurality of corresponding presentations, automatically presenting, at least substantially simultaneously, at least some of the plurality of corresponding presentations using the plurality of displays. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 upon identifying a particular user in the presentation zone for whom there are a plurality of corresponding presentations, automatically providing the particular user with an opportunity to select a particular one of the plurality of corresponding presentations to present via at least one of the plurality of displays. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 by a control circuit that operably couples to a user-identification interface, a memory having a plurality of presentations stored therein, and a plurality of displays that are disposed within a presentation zone:   identifying users within the presentation zone;   automatically selecting, from amongst the plurality of presentations, at least two particular presentations as correspond to two of the users; and   automatically presenting, at least substantially simultaneously, the at least two particular presentations using the plurality of displays.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the presentation zone is enclosed within a room that has a secured point of entry and wherein the user-identification interface is disposed proximal to the secured point of entry. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 controlling unlocking of the secured point of entry to protect confidentiality of a presentation being presently presented in the presentation zone. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein at least some of the plurality of displays comprise touch-screen displays. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the presentations include at least one executable statistical analysis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 determining authorization status for the users within the presentation zone; and 
 automatically determining to not present at least one of the at least two particular presentations in response to there being a user within the presentation zone who lacks a particular authorization status. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 detecting when one of the two users leaves the presentation zone; and 
 responsively halting presenting the particular presentation as corresponds to the user who left the presentation zone. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 upon identifying a particular user in the presentation zone for whom there are a plurality of corresponding presentations, automatically presenting, at least substantially simultaneously, at least some of the plurality of corresponding presentations using the plurality of displays. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 upon identifying a particular user in the presentation zone for whom there are a plurality of corresponding presentations, automatically providing the particular user with an opportunity to select a particular one of the plurality of corresponding presentations to present via at least one of the plurality of displays.